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Recovering Datz to miss Mariners next road trip

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By Gregg Bell
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Special to MLB.com |

SEATTLE -- Mariners third-base coach Jeff Datz is still recovering from medical tests after being diagnosed with cancer and will not make the Mariners' trip to Toronto for a weekend series that begins Friday or to Pittsburgh for two games next week. Minor League catching coordinator John Stearns will continue to fill in as Seattle's third-base coach.

Wednesday, Stearns was still feeling his way around his new role. Before batting practice he was asking Mariners staffers where the bubble gum was stored.

Datz told the team on Saturday that he'd been diagnosed with cancer, but has yet to reveal publicly what type of the disease he's facing.

Gregg Bell is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.